Suspect in theft of guns shoots self in front of lawmen, airlifted to hospital

A man was airlifted to a Birmingham-area hospital Wednesday with a gunshot wound after authorities say he shot himself during a law enforcement operation in Shelby County.

The incident happened about 3 p.m. on August Road in the Summerhill community, according to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. Investigators went to a home there looking for guns stolen in a residential burglary that happened Tuesday.

Authorities said a large number of guns were stolen during that break-in and the residence set on fire. They didn't say where that burglary took place, or how many weapons were taken.

Investigators received information about who committed the burglary and where the guns were hidden. They went to the location on Wednesday. At that time, they spotted someone leaving the home and began to question that person, according to a sheriff's office press release. The owner arrived home a short time later and gave deputies permission to go inside and search for the stolen guns.

Once inside, they saw the man suspected in the burglary and said he was pointing a gun at himself. They ordered him to drop the gun but he refused and shot himself.

Southeast Shelby Rescue responded and treated the suspect at the scene. He was then flown by LifeSaver helicopter to an undisclosed hospital. Authorities said they don't yet know his condition and also said no one else was injured.

The Shelby County Major Crimes Task Force, which is a multi-jurisdictional unit made up of law enforcement officers from various agencies, and the Shelby County District Attorney's Office were called in to lead the investigation. Two other people were arrested at the scene related to the investigation. their names and charges have not yet been released either.